Josh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I first heard the name Sergei Magnitsky many years ago when talking to my predecessor, Michael Danby, who would very much like to have been here today. I'm sure, had the borders been open, he would have been in the chamber today to shepherd this bill through, to see the continuation of his work and the work of many others and see the Magnitsky act legislated and go through as law in this country. This is a cause that Michael believed in deeply and a cause that guided him throughout his political career. He often took issues and took a stance on issues before they became mainstream and before many others did so. It is a great credit to Michael that he spent many days in this place looking not just for the latest political trend but, rather, at what was the principle he needed to stand for on behalf of those who needed a voice in this great chamber of democracy.

Michael wanted very much to see a Magnitsky act legislated. He retired just before it happened. He passed the mantle on to his good friend in the other place Senator Kitching, who has carried on the Danby mantle of Magnitsky and shepherded this bill through. I pay tribute to Senator Kitching, who was recently awarded a Sergei Magnitsky human rights award for 2021. She is very much a worthy recipient of that award as someone who has worked tirelessly to see that Australia joins the many other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union, that have a framework of sanctions on individuals who are against human rights.

Senator Kitching organised for a group of us from both sides of the parliament to listen to the great Bill Browder, the person who started this global movement in honour of his friend and lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a prison camp in Russia. Hearing Bill speak, even though it was on Zoom because of the pandemic, was infectious. From his passion and sincerity, you can see why this has become a global movement and why democratic nations around the world have introduced similar bills to this one. Make no mistake, it is due to Bill Browder and his tireless commitment to stand up for what is right, not what is easy.

This bill is a big step forward in our sanctions regime. Is it exactly as the Labor Party would have legislated and drafted? No. But it is a bill that we will support, obviously. It is a good step in the right direction, and it does improve our sanctions capability. It is important that Australia has strong sanctions capabilities. In instances like what happened in Myanmar where there was a coup, where Australia is now standing alone among similar countries in not having issued sanctions, it is important that we have legislation such as this in order to take action and send a strong signal to those who ran the coup in that country.

The other person I want to mention in this speech—and I'll keep my remarks relatively brief—is Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Along with the member for Wentworth, I worked with the Minister for Foreign Affairs—and I want to pay credit also to the Prime Minister, who was deeply involved in the activity—to have her released from an Iranian prison after 800 days. The astounding thing about Kylie Moore-Gilbert is that, despite the unbelievable ordeal that she had to go through, she has come out of that with grace, strength, intelligence, conviction and a commitment to stand up for others who were in her spot and others who face similar situations. She has been a champion for this legislation as well, and I pay tribute to her.

This is the culmination of many years of work. This is the culmination of many years of dedication. This is a good piece of legislation. It is important that Australia increases our sanctions capability, and I am proud to support the Magnitsky act in honour of Sergei Magnitsky and Bill Browder and all of their tireless efforts.

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